nieuws 2024

In a recent study at the University of Twente, researchers discovered a way to scatter light in a special, symmetrical way using nanotechnology. This has potential for future technologies such as anti-counterfeiting. For the study, the researchers printed cubes about five times smaller than the diameter of a human hair, which consisted of rods in random directions.

When water freezes slowly, the location where water turns into ice - known as the freezing front - forms a straight line. Researchers from the University of Twente showed how droplets that interact with such a freezing front, cause surprising deformations of this front. These new insights were published in a publication in the scientific journal Physical Review Letters and show potential for applications in cryopreservation and food engineering techniques.

Charlotte Nawijn, PhD candidate at the University of Twente, has developed a new technique to improve ultrasound images of blood flow. Using a smart ultrasound pulse train, she reduced noise in contrast ultrasound images. Nawijn obtained her PhD on this subject on 24 October with the defence of her dissertation 'Bubbles and Waves for Ultrasound Imaging and Therapy' .

In a time when many sectors are facing significant labor shortages, it is important to pay attention to the well-being of people in the workplace. "It's time for positive organizations that prioritize the well-being of their employees," states Professor Marianne van Woerkom in her inaugural lecture, which she will give on October 18 at Tilburg University.

On 17 October 2024, Martina Lamberti publicly defended her PhD thesis, "Know the Past to See the Future: Memory and Prediction in In-Vitro Cortical Neurons" , at the University of Twente. Her research sheds light on how the brain predicts future events and forms memories. These findings could open new doors in understanding neurological conditions like dementia.

The healthcare sector is heading toward a global shortage of 10 million workers. Research from Tilburg University shows how HR departments can creatively contribute to the battle for healthcare staff, and why they need to go beyond traditional methods. 'Many healthcare organizations are still looking for candidates who meet all the requirements.' Staff shortages in healthcare are high on political agendas.

On 18 September it's International Equal Pay Day-a day to reflect on the global fight for equal pay between men and women. At UvA Economics and Business, this topic is examined from a variety of angles. From fatherhood bonuses and diversity issues in tech startups to the impact of contraception on women's careers-these studies shed light on the hidden dynamics behind the gender gap.

In today's fast-paced business environment, organisational change is inevitable, yet around 60% of these changes fail. Leaders can play a crucial role in navigating these transitions, but achieving success calls for more than just traditional leadership styles - it's also about mastering certain political skills.

Informal care has a huge impact on your working life. Informal carers earn less per hour and are less satisfied with their job. This is the conclusion reached by sociologist Klara Raiber, who will defend her PhD dissertation at Radboud University on 2 July. With more people becoming informal carers, the researcher says it is high time for structural support to be provided.

Platform work, such as driving for Uber or freelancing through Upwork, is booming, but it also raises questions about employment rights. A new EU directive should soon make it easier for platform workers to prove that they are not self-employed but employees. But what then? According to labour law researcher Jorn Kloostra, not enough attention has been paid to how platform work should be given a sustainable place in the Dutch job market.

Leaving out personal data on CVs leads to a considerably higher chance of employers selecting candidates with a migration background. This is the conclusion of a large-scale study by Radboud University and Utrecht University on the Municipality of the Hague as an organisation, where over 7,000 applications were studied.